To make a server First Extract the .zip file. Next run the "Run 5 A.bat" which should open the server. Then go to Command Prompt (Windows sorry if you are on Mac/Linux but I don't know what your command prompt is) and type ipconfig (one word no spaces) and check your ipv4 address (this is the ip YOU will use not your friends). Then go into Minecraft then multiplayer then direct connection/add server and type in your ipv4 address and you should be in your server. If you want to play with friends then you have to port forward (Watch this YouTube video to learn how to port forward: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSEhgCp5UBk&ab_channel=TheBreakdown.)
To play older versions first download the .zip file by clicking on the version you want then pressing download then direct download. Then extract the .zip file. Finally copy all of the mods in the mods folder to your mods folder and run minecraft forge 1.12.2.